Phenom xl desktop sem

The microstructural evaluation of the samples by SEM was conducted in collaboration with the Department of Chemical Engineering, Materials, Environment (Sapienza University of Rome, Italy) and Department d’Enginyeria Química (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain) employing a Mira 3 FEG-SEM (Tescan, Brno, Czech Republic) and a Phenom XL Desktop SEM (Thermo-Fisher, Waltham, MA, USA), respectively. Before SEM analyses, samples were sputter-coated with gold to obtain conductive specimens.

SEM observations were carried out using Phenom Pro X and Phenom XL Desktop SEM (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA). Samples were observed with gold coating and at an accelerating voltage of 10 kV. The samples were coated with gold using Quorum Q150R S Sputter Coater (Quorum Technologies, Lewes, UK).

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to explore the morphological features and measure the fiber diameter of the resulting 20% N_COL/2% SPIONs scaffolds. For the analysis, samples of the electrospun scaffolds were sputter-coated with platinum (up to 7 nm thickness), and images were acquired using a Desktop SEM Phenom XL (Phenom-World B.V., Eindhoven, The Netherlands) at an accelerating voltage of 15 kV and different magnifications.
The distribution of SPIONs into the collagen fibers of the scaffolds was observed by means of Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). For the analysis, the 20% N_COL/2% SPIONs scaffolds were embedded in Epon 112 for 72 h at 60 °C. Subsequently, ultrathin 50 nm sections were cut with a diamond knife on a Leica EM UC7 microtome and placed on copper TEM grids. Finally, samples were counterstained with 2% uranyl acetate for 30 s and imaged with a FEI Tecnai G2 Spirit BioTWIN iCorr microscope.

Cell-seeded samples for SEM analysis were fixed in 2% glutaraldehyde (MERCK, Darmstadt, Germany) in 0.1 M sodium cacodylate buffer (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA), followed by washing in PBS and post-fixation in 1% osmium tetroxide (Electron Microscopy Sciences, Hatfield, PA, USA) in 0.1 M sodium cacodylate buffer. Complete dehydration was achieved in graded alcohol series and hexamethyldisilane. Samples were sputter-coated with platinum (up to 7 nm thickness) and the images were acquired with a Desktop SEM Phenom XL (Phenom-World B.V., Eindhoven, The Netherlands) at an accelerating voltage of 15 kV.

Cell-seeded samples for SEM analysis were fixed in 2% glutaraldehyde (MERCK, 4239) in 0.1 M sodium cacodylate buffer (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA, C-0250), followed by washing in PBS and post-fixation in 1% osmium tetroxide (Electron Microscopy Sciences, Hatfield, PA, USA, 12310) in 0.1 M sodium cacodylate buffer. Complete dehydration was achieved in graded alcohol series and hexamethyldisilane; platinum was used for sputter coating (up to 7 nm thickness). Images were acquired by using a Desktop SEM Phenom XL (Phenom-World B.V., Eindhoven, NL) at an accelerating voltage of 15 kV.

Samples were fixed in 2% glutaraldehyde (MERCK, 4239) in 0.1 M sodium cacodylate buffer (Sigma, C-0250) followed by washing in PBS and post-fixed in 1% osmium tetroxide (Electron Microscopy Sciences, 12310) in 0.1 M sodium cacodylate buffer. Successively, samples were dehydrated in graded alcohol series and hexamethyldisilazane and finally sputter coated with platinum (up to 7 nm thickness). Images were acquired using a Desktop SEM Phenom XL (Phenom-World B.V., The Netherlands) at an accelerating voltage of 15 kV and different magnifications.